Four women who were recalled to a breast cancer clinic amid concerns over the quality of its screening have now been diagnosed with the disease.

Hempriggs Residential Care Home near Wick has closed after nearly 18 years of operation due to a steady decline in referrals over the past few years.

A major overhaul of Scotland’s war on drugs will be unveiled this week as a report reveals a shocking rise in the number of addicts being ‘parked’ on heroin replacement drugs.

Detectives are shutting down at least one cannabis factory a week in their battle to contain an illegal industry created by reclassification of the drug, one of Scotland’s leading police officers have revealed.

A social care boss in charge of finding children foster homes has been running a stolen car factory from her mansion. Jackie McIlhargey, 42, raked in a fortune by stripping the vehicles of their parts and selling them on.

A group of scientists believe they have moved closer to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. St Andrews University biologists claim to have developed a compound which has successfully prevented the disease killing brain cells.

{mosimage}It also appeared to improve memory and learning ability that had already been damaged. Working with US researchers they developed man-made compounds capable of blocking a nerve cell interaction known to lead to the symptoms of the disease.

The results of the study – carried out in the laboratory using a model of the disease – have prompted the Alzheimer’s Research Trust to help fund a further three years research.

Trust chief executive Rebecca Wood described the findings as “exciting”. “A drug that can stop Alzheimer’s disease from killing brain cells is a holy grail for researchers working to overcome the devastating condition which affects more than 500,000 people in the UK,” she said.

The number of sufferers is expected to double to more than one million with the general ageing of the population over the next generation. Alzheimer’s is linked to the build-up of amyloid protein, which eventually forms “senile plaques”.

The amyloid protein inflicts damage by interacting with an enzyme called amyloid beta alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD) and releasing toxic substances which kill brain cells. Researchers at St Andrews University initially focused on developing the three-dimensional shape of ABAD and understanding how amyloid attaches itself to the structure.

Standards of care in Scotland’s nursing homes need to be improved, according to the minister responsible for services for the elderly.

{mosimage}Shona Robison, the public health minister, said she was “appalled” by the cases of neglect and mistreatment of elderly people highlighted by The Scotsman earlier this week, and pledged action to lift standards.

Following Monday’s investigation – which found that complaints about abuse in care homes had risen by two thirds last year, The Scotsman has learned of further serious instances of neglect.

Writing for this paper, Ms Robison said: “Like anyone else, I was appalled to read of the cases of neglect and mistreatment of older people in care homes highlighted by The Scotsman.

“The fact that these cases still have the power to shock us demonstrates that they are, thankfully, not commonplace – but it’s still not good enough that they happen at all.

“I am determined to prevent the unacceptable mistreatment of older people in care homes. The need to improve standards lies at the heart of this issue.”

Ms Robison said a new campaign would raise awareness of the existing care standards, which experts say are too often not being met.

Pensioners at the centre of a controversial row over care fees are to receive £100 from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Scotland’s drugs minister has said he is “sympathetic” to UK Government plans to upgrade cannabis to a class B drug.

Major health problems including binge drinking and bad eating habits are more common in the west of Scotland – even among the middle classes.